BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE) is pleased to announce that it has awarded $30,000 in funding for school enrichment projects to 11 elementary schools in its central Maryland service area as part of the third annual BGE Wires Down Video Challenge. The eleven winning schools and their videos were selected from a field of 26 videos from 24 participating elementary schools.
“BGE congratulates all of the winning schools in our third annual Wires Down Video Challenge and applauds the efforts of the students and teachers at each of the schools that participated,” said Stephen J. Woerner, president and chief operating officer for BGE. “We commend the students for their hard work, creativity and commitment to learning about the importance of electric safety. BGE launched our Wires Down Video Challenge, which was based off our original ‘Wires Down’ commercial, to help educate customers about the dangers associated with downed power lines, especially children who may be unaware of the safety hazards. We are proud of the efforts these schools have made to help share this important message with their students, families and friends.”
Today, at a surprise all-school assembly with more than 250 students and teachers, BGE President and Chief Operating Officer Stephen J. Woerner presented a trophy and the $10,000 grand prize, the Star Power Award, to Sarah M. Roach Elementary School in Baltimore City. At the assembly, BGE representatives praised the students for their creativity and the use of their talents in acting, music and choreography to create their rendition of the original BGE Wires Down commercial, helping the students stand out among the other videos submitted. The school plans to use the $10,000 school enrichment award to purchase new laptop computers to start a technology club. To view the grand prize winning video from Sarah M. Roach Elementary School, visit bgevideochallenge.com. To view photos from today’s event, visit BGE’s Flickr site at https://www.flickr.com/photos/mybge.
“Thank you, BGE, for this wonderful prize for a video that not only raises awareness about an important issue, but highlights the creative and talented staff and students at Sarah M. Roach Elementary School,” said Dr. Gregory E. Thornton, Ed.D., Baltimore City Public Schools. “Our students and staff worked hard on this, and we couldn’t be more proud. We are also proud of our continuing partnership with BGE.”
More than 77,000 votes were cast over a two week period in December to determine the winning videos. Below are each of the winning schools from the third annual BGE Wires Down Video Challenge:
- Star Power Award ($10,000) – Sarah M. Roach Elementary School, Baltimore City, Md.
-
Spotlight Award* ($5,000) – Northwood Elementary School,
Baltimore City, Md.
*Northwood Elementary School also received the Rock the Vote Award and received backpacks and safety gear in addition to the $5,000 Spotlight Award. - Director’s Cut Award ($3,000) – Empowerment Academy Elementary and Middle School, Baltimore City, Md.
- Golden Pipes Award ($3,000) – Monarch Global Academy, Laurel, Md.
- Cast N Crew Award ($3,000) – Perry Hall Christian School, Perry Hall, Md.
- Rock the Vote Award* (backpacks and safety gear) – Northwood Elementary School, Baltimore City, Md.
- Baltimore County Award ($1,000) – Krieger Schechter Day School, Pikesville, Md.
- Baltimore City Award ($1,000) – The H.O.P.E. Academy, Baltimore City, Md.
- Anne Arundel County Award ($1,000) – Edgewater Elementary School, Edgewater, Md.
- Carroll County Award ($1,000) – St. John, Westminster, Md.
- Harford County Award ($1,000) – Riverside Elementary School, Abingdon, Md.
- Howard County Award ($1,000) – Our Lady of Perpetual Help School, Ellicott City, Md.
To date, BGE has presented nearly $81,000 in to 27 elementary schools across central Maryland as part of the BGE Wires Down Video Challenge since 2012. To view the contest website, complete listing of winning schools and submitted video entries, go to bgevideochallenge.com.
In February, BGE will launch its second annual Captain Mercaptan Natural Gas Safety Hero Challenge. Elementary schools can submit drawings, created by their students, of BGE’s natural gas safety hero, Captain Mercaptan, for the chance to win up to $10,000 for their school. Entry kits are available online now and submissions will be accepted from Jan. 19 through March 15, 2015. For more information, visit BGEgashero.com.
About the BGE Wires Down Video Challenge
This fall, BGE launched the second annual BGE Wires Down Video Challenge to all elementary schools in its central Maryland service area for a chance to win up to $10,000 toward a school enrichment project. More than 41,000 votes were cast for the 22 videos that were submitted during an online voting phase in December. Elementary schools were encouraged to create their own adaption of BGE’s popular “Wires Down” electric safety commercial for the chance to win up to $10,000 to fund a school enrichment project. Originally produced in 2000, the Emmy Award-winning commercial with its “do not, do not, do not touch” refrain aims to help raise awareness of electricity hazards, especially among young children. For more information on the Wires Down Video Challenge and electrical safety, visit bge.com.
BGE, headquartered in Baltimore, is Maryland’s largest gas and electric utility, delivering power to more than 1.2 million electric customers and more than 655,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. The company’s approximately 3,400 employees are committed to the safe and reliable delivery of gas and electricity, as well as enhanced energy management, conservation, environmental stewardship and community assistance. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with 2013 revenues of approximately $24.9 billion. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.
